COREY CAMPBELL has left St Albans City FC after negotiations to keep him at Clarence Park fell through late last week.

The centre back is the first high-profile victim of the new pragmatic wage structure that Steve Cook and Gary Roberts have introduced at the club, and signals their intention to create a collective atmosphere among the players, devoid of disproportionately high-earners.

"Make no mistake, we're an ambitious club," said Cook, "but we've set our stall out on what we're prepared to offer people individually, and we weren't prepared to let other signings down by upping those terms."

Campbell was one of four players on inflated wages when Cook and Roberts arrived. Richard Hirst was signed by Chelmsford early last season, Gary Ansell is believed to be looking elsewhere after his contract was not renewed during the summer, while Gary Wraight is considering better terms offered by a club one division below City.

The irony is, both Cambell and Wraight were actually offered better deals than those signed during former chairman Lee Harding's time. But as the club now insists on dealing in gross figures, with tax and national insurance being deducted, the weekly take-home package works out considerably less.

"Corey knows we made every effort to keep him, but he played less than half our games last season so, to me, was he in a position to bargain for a better contract?" Cook said.

Either way, his absence will be severely felt next season, with Rob Gould at 6ft 2 a possible replacement. City would prefer him on the right though, and are "looking around with interest" for a long-term replacement.

Their latest signing, Steve Castle, is a midfielder with more than 200 appearances for Leyton Orient, while talks have gone well with another midfielder and forward, with the former expected to sign before the season starts.

The striker meanwhile, is understood to be coveted by a number of Conference League clubs but, after meeting with Cook and Roberts, was sufficiently impressed with the club and is likely to figure in a few pre-season fixtures, when the club rather than the player will be on trial.

Should he sign, Craig Mackail-Smith would be among those to benefit, after the former City Youth striker signed a one-year deal recently.

"It's a sign that we're trying to get an infrastructure at the club, and are going to bring youth team players through," added Cook.

Meanwhile, a final pre-season date has been confirmed for Sunday, August 18, when City will travel to Fisher Athletic of the Dr Martens East Division.

July 3, 2002 17:00